DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Population Size Estimates for the Use of Humidifier Disinfectants and Experience of Health Effects from Exposure to Humidifier Disinfectants

가습기 살균제 노출 및 건강피해 규모 평가 연구

  • Lee, Kyoung-Mu (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Paek, Domyung (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Cheong, Hae-Kwan (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Solwhee (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Seo, Jung-Wook (Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University & Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Hong, Young-seob (Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University & Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University) ;
  • Kim, Hyeongsu (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University) ;
  • Lee, Jongwha (Department of Environmental Health, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Leem, Jonghan (Departments of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University) ;
  • Kim, Pangyi (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yongin University)
  • 이경무 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 백도명 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 정해관 (성균관대학교 사회의학교실) ;
  • 김솔휘 (한국방송통신대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 서정욱 (중금속 환경보건센터 & 동아대학교 예방의학교실) ;
  • 홍영습 (중금속 환경보건센터 & 동아대학교 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김형수 (건국대학교 예방의학교실) ;
  • 이종화 (순천향대학교 환경보건학과) ;
  • 임종한 (인하대학교 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 김판기 (용인대학교 산업환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2019.06.07
  • Accepted : 2019.06.20
  • Published : 2019.06.30

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to estimate the number of those who used humidifier disinfectants (HDs) and experienced health effects from exposure to HDs in Korea between 1994 and 2011. Methods: A nationwide interview survey was conducted for the representative sample to identify the proportion of those who used HDs among the general population (n=3,001). Another online survey was conducted for those exposed to HDs to find the proportion of those who experienced health effects among those who were exposed to HDs (n=3,993). Statistics for population size by region and year (1994-2011) were used to estimate the cumulative number of those exposed to HDs and those who experienced health effects. In terms of the proportion of those exposed to HDs, those less than 30 years of age were excluded due to an issue related to information bias. Various approaches for estimation included the capture-recapture method for estimation of those who experienced health effects. Results: The cumulative proportion of those exposed to HDs was 6.7% among the general population, and the proportion of those who experienced health effects among those who were exposed to HDs was 13.9%. Based on these factors, it was estimated that 3.5 to 4.0 million people were exposed to HDs and 350 to 400 thousand experienced health effects at least requiring visiting a hospital. Conclusion: It is suggested that a nationwide representative sample may be essential for population size estimation of those exposed to environmental risk factors and of those who experienced health effects.

Keywords

References

  1. Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. Comprehensive portal for humidifier disinfectant damage support: Statistics. [2019. 6. 10]
  2. Park DU. A strategy for exposure assessment of humidifier disinfectant associated to health effects. J Environ Health Sci. 2018; 44(2): 107-114.
  3. Jeon BH, Park YJ. Frequency of humidifier and humidifier disinfectant usase in Gyeonggi Province. Environmental Health and Toxicology. 2012; Vol 27. e2012002. https://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012002
  4. Chang MH, Park H, Ha M, Kim YH, Hong YC, Ha EH. Characteristics of humidifier use in Korean pregnant women: The Mothers and Children's Environmental Helath (MOCEH) Study. 2012; Vol 27. e2012003. https://doi.org/10.5620/eht.2012.27.e2012003
  5. Lung Injury Investigation Committee by the Korean Center for Disease Control. White paper on health damage by the exposure to humidifier disinfectant. 2014.
  6. Park DU, Choi YY, Ahn JJ, Lim HK, Kim SK, Roh HS, Cheong HK, Leem JH, Koh DH, Jung HJ, Lee KM, Lee JH, Kim YH, Lim SY, Paek DM, Lim CM, Hong SJ. Relationship between Exposure to Household Humidifier Disinfectants and Risk of Lung Injury: A Family-Based Study. PLoS One. 2015; 10(5): e0124610. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124610
  7. Yang HJ, Kim HJ, Yu J, Lee E, Jung YH, Kim HY, Seo JH, Kwon GY, Park JH, Gwack J, Youn SK, Kwon JW, Jun BY, Kim KW, Ahn K, Lee SY, Park JD, Kwon JW, Kim BJ, Lee MS, Do KH, Jang SJ, Pyun BY, Hong SJ. Inhalation toxicity of humidifier disinfectants as a risk factor of children's interstitial lung disease in Korea: a case-control study. PLoS One. 2013; 8(6): e64430. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064430
  8. Paek D, Koh Y, Park DU, Cheong HK, Do KH, Lim CM, Hong SJ, Kim YH, Leem JH, Chung KH, Choi YY, Lee JH, Lim SY, Chung EH, Cho YA, Chae EJ, Joh JS, Yoon Y, Lee KH, Choi BY, Gwack J. Nationwide Study of Humidifier Disinfectant Lung Injury in South Korea, 1994-2011. Incidence and Dose-Response Relationships. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2015; 12(12): 1813-21. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201504-221OC
  9. Yunhap News. Humidifier disinfectants, one-tenth intent to purchase again. 2011.9.26. (http://www.yakup.com/news/?mode=view&cat=11&nid=145912)
  10. Presian News. One-fifth of nation are potential victim by the exposure to humidifier disinfectant. 2016.7.22. (http://www.pressian.com/news/article.html?no=139317)
  11. National Institute of Environmental Research. Establishing disease identification and standards criteria to expand the range of health hazards caused by the humidifier sterilizer. (NIER-SP2016-429) (http://webbook.me.go.kr/DLi-File/NIER/06/023/5638910.pdf)
  12. Choi Y. Questions and Answers about the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster as of February 2017. J Environ Health Sci. 2017; 43(1): 1-22.
  13. Korea Statistical Information Service. Central Population Resisters by year: 1994-2011. (http://kosis.kr/index/index.do)
  14. MN Ha, Kwon HJ, Kang DH, Cho SH, Yoo KY, Joo YS, Sung JH, Kang JW, Kim DS, Lee SI. Completeness Estimation of the Korean Medical Insurance Data in Childhood Asthma: Using Capture-Recapture Method. J Prev Med Public Health 1997; 30(2): 428-439.